When i got back from driving yesterday, antifreeze was leaking out the front of my Jeep onto the ground...probably a good pint or so at least. Anyway, i have the closed cooling system (1987 model) so i just added some water back to the reservoir since it was low. Is this enough for me to drive it the 5 miles i need to go to put this thing in shop, or should i have it towed?

When i got back from driving yesterday, antifreeze was leaking out the front of my Jeep onto the ground...probably a good pint or so at least. Anyway, i have the closed cooling system (1987 model) so i just added some water back to the reservoir since it was low. Is this enough for me to drive it the 5 miles i need to go to put this thing in shop, or should i have it towed?

5 miles Id do it. I'd watch the temp VERY closely... Just take it easy... It probably leaks more when it gets up to temp. 5 Miles might get it warmed up a bit, but shouldn't overheat it.

Hope it's an easy fix, and talk to some of the people on this board about bleeding the cooling system..

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Depending on the outside temperature, your car can run from 5-15 minutes with total failure of its cooling system. My water pump failed on my Mercedes, and I knew I had to go 5 more miles, and made it alright. If you are going to replace cooling system components, go ahead and convert to the open system that 91+ XJs used. I have the writeup if you want to PM me.

I was gonna try to drive it later in the evening when its cooler out. I know i lost some fluid but bi dont know how o out more in so i just out some in the reservoir. It seems like it only leaks when hot anyway, so maybe i can get there. Thanks for all the responses.

Not sure how mechanically inclined you are, but I would say check it out yourself before you spend a dime at a shop. Here's why. When you take it to a shop, your first pay for them to look at it, then pay for them to tool around with it, then pay their premium price for any parts they replace (they often replace parts that didn't need replacing, or parts that don't fix the problem)...

Chances are it is something very simple. Here is what I would probably do. Hop under it and see where the fluid is coming from. If it is hard to tell due to fluid all over the place, clean it all up, start it up for just a minute or two (don't leave it on NEARLY long enough to overheat), shut it off, and get back under there and watch it closely. Getting the fluid moving should have caused at least a few drips to show up somewhere.

Once you know where it is coming from, you will either see a simple problem (cracked/disconected hose) or a complicated problem (cracked radiator, leaky pump, whatever). If you find where it is leaking, and don't know what is causing it to leak, post back here and someone can probably help you out.

You will most likely only end up spending less than $50... good luck, and I hope to hear back from you on here before you take it to the shop.